hey hey,

so when press people get together off-duty they share/exhume/compete about the incendiary times they've had, accomplished and failed. We're a kind of a ridiculous (yet yes, at times, noble) tribe that bonds, loves and hates together and against eachother - terribly fragile ego's ha!! Ultimately, and over hard licquor long into the night and onto the next day, we say cheers and inwardly grate and celebrate the fact that we live in the trenches - and by our own choice argh! At its lows, life will never feel more visceral, jab at your soul worse. Wrench out my sodden heart and stamp on it why don't you? Yet on its high's no drug can touch it - I've tried! Energy will never pump through a persons veins more crimson than when your addiction is being fed. Or maybe that's just us. It's something that I have raced towards and run away from more than a few times - I always come back to it. She's the mistress.

And so today, with honour, I raise a glass to Shawn Mortensen. We did all of the above together, let's not embarrass the man by going on and on about his accomplishments (one of the greatest street culture photographers/gloriously nosey parkers that ever walked this EARTH!) He passed away yesterday evening and oooooooooooooohhhhhhh my, that shit stings. I met that Jedi fucker and man, I'm hopping mad that he's been taken away. Once met and never forgotten. Good-bye Mister! It happened way, way too soon. Shawn, why d'ya have to check out so fast?!! Well listen my friend, I know you got a space saved for me in the great bar in the sky. We were waiting for you to come back to Paris - ohhoho the plans we had laid! Pfffffft. All I can do is raise a glass high and light a fine, fine cigar in your honour - victory SALUTE. Please, let me wish you good-luck, fire, love and protection on your new journey. Next time, don't go without saying good-bye. I'll hold you to that. Don't be thinking that I'm joking now. Line up the shots

yes yes mate: www.shawnmortensen.org